Debra 'Debbie' Kay Krantz, 66

Debra “Debbie” Kay Krantz, our beloved daughter, sister, aunt and cousin, passed away at Logan Health in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, due to Covid-19, at the age of 66. She made the journey to be with our beloved mother.

Debbie was born on July 12, 1955, to Alven and Kathleen (Tennant) Krantz in Havre. A couple months later the family moved back to the Flathead Valley. Debbie attended schools throughout the Flathead and Mission Valleys, starting in Fortine, Whitefish, Kalispell, Polson and graduating from Flathead High in 1974. As a youngster, she enjoyed camping trips with her family and friends. She was very outgoing and it was easy for her to make friends. Debbie grew up with two sisters and a brother and was a very loving and unselfish sibling.

She always put others before herself. After she graduated high school in the ‘70s she started cooking at Smitty’s on top of Underpass Hill, as well as tending bar at a couple of the local establishments. In 1980, she moved to the Tri-Cities where her older sister, Teri, lived and continued her career in the restaurant business. In the later ‘80s she moved back to Kalispell and worked at El Rancho for a period before going to work at Perkins on top of Underpass Hill, which later became Finnegan’s. We were told by some of the waitresses there that “Debbie was the best.” She was there for 28 years before retiring. In the summer of 2018, she moved to Condon near her brother and sister-in-law. While there, she enjoyed watching the wildlife, seeing herds of elk and a few bears for the first time. She really enjoyed a black bear we saw on the way to Kalispell one day, as we watched for a while. She also had a couple experiences with both a black bear and a young grizzly trying to get into her “bear proof” garbage can which held up. It was at night, but she could see them under her porch light.

Debbie was preceded in death by our mother, Kathy, and a baby brother who passed at birth.

Debbie is survived by her father, Alven Krantz, sisters Teri (Rex Grigg), Brenda Krantz (George), brother Rick Krantz (Debbi), nephews Ben Krantz (Rachel), Tyler Krantz, Ryan Krantz, Austane Belmaggio, Zach Zeller, Ari Blubaugh, nieces, Tammy Zeller, Cassie Kiern, Tisha Zeller and Kenzi and Summer Krantz, as well as several cousins and close friends.

Cremation was Debbie’s wish and that took place at Buffalo Hill. She was adamant that she did not want a service of any kind due to Covid-19.

Any memorial contributions should be directed to the Flathead Animal Shelter, or a charity of your choice per Debbie’s request.